Jennifer Lynn Kranz, or “JLK,” loves Disney princesses, dance parties and the color pink. But life hasn’t been a fairytale for the 6-year-old who learned last month – on her birthday – that she has an inoperable tumor growing in her brainstem.
From 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 1, community members and family friends will gather at Patti’s Perfect Pantry & Tea Cafe – the gluten free bakery JLK and her family love to visit – to share cookies and tea and take pictures with Santa. Proceeds from the event will buy the Kranz family, who lives in Gilroy, more time with their little girl, as well the ability to pursue a potential clinical trial.
“Trial expenses often aren’t covered by insurance and depending on where the trial is located there are travel costs that add up,” writes JLK’s mom Libby Kranz, on the “Love U JLK” website, which includes a blog and photos. “If we aren’t lucky enough to get her in a trial, then we hope to spend the time we are gifted from radiation together as a complete family, which means my husband taking an extended amount of time off work. Anything given will help us cover the day-to-day bills.”
A family friend asked Patti’s Perfect Pantry if they might be able to donate 10 percent of the proceeds from one day of business to the girl’s family as part of a community fundraiser. Shop owner Patti Tartaglia offered to open her bakery outside of normal hours on Sunday, Dec. 1 and to give all proceeds to the family.
“I’m supplying cookies and tea,” said Tartaglia, who also arranged for Santa to be on hand to take pictures with children. “We’ll be decorated for the holidays.”
The store is a perfect choice for a fundraiser benefiting JLK, who can’t eat gluten because she has celiac disease – an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. JLK loves Patti’s completely gluten-free menu.
Located at 12180 F First St. in Gilroy, Patti’s Perfect Pantry is the only dedicated gluten-free restaurant south of San Carlos – roughly 56 miles from Gilroy – and has already drawn a strong following of people with food allergies from all over the Central Coast and Silicon Valley since setting up camp in town four months ago.
Families who attend the fundraiser are asked to contribute a minimum donation of $25 and will receive photos with Santa. To join the family in the journey or make a donation, visit JLK’s website: www.love4JLK.org.
